Where to eat at Easter in Lombardy: the 7 best agriturismos chosen by Gambero Rosso

Perhaps not everyone knows that, according to Coldiretti estimates, Lombardy is the third Italian region for the number of agriturismos. The "agricultural" holiday, in the green and in contact with the vegetable garden and farm animals, is one of the most appealing types of experiences in these times when the return to the countryside and the need to rediscover slower and more "human" rhythms have become a widespread trend.
With spring approaching and Easter weekend on the horizon, many people are fleeing the city to spend stays designed to unwind and experience a regenerating gastronomic experience in every aspect. The region's landscape variety, along with well-equipped accommodation facilities, offers many possibilities in this regard. From educational farms to super-equipped agri-resorts, from Lake Garda to Oltrepò to Franciacorta, the choices are plentiful. Here are the best agriturismos chosen by Gambero Rosso.

Where to Eat at Easter in Lombardy:

La Botanica

A dive into nature in a green oasis of peace that restores adults and offers entertainment and learning opportunities for children. For them, there are organized games, workshops, walks in the stables in contact with cows and calves, while adults unwind and refresh with a typical Lombardian cuisine revisited using almost zero-kilometer ingredients: homemade cold cuts, fresh and aged cheeses, CBT eggs and pimpinella pesto, polenta sphere filled with taleggio, fondue and caramelized onion, smoked pork loin wrapped in speck reserve, Moscato di Scanzo, cocoa jus, gratin chard and fennel.

La Botanica - Lentate sul Seveso (MB) - via Filippo Gerbino, 33 - 335 5471176 - aziendaagricolabotanica.it

Cascina Caremma

For a quarter of a century, it has been one of the most popular outings for Milanese residents. As the market demands, the farm has evolved to offer, in addition to 14 rooms, a small spa and a good gastronomic experience. At Easter, there's a double menu, traditional and vegetarian (rye pasqualina cake, mixed fry, roasted kid, or asparagus flan with Piemontese fondue and Brussels sprouts with curry sauce and carrot puree).

Cascina Caremma - Besate (MI) - via Cascina Caremma, 2 - 02 9050020 - caremma.com

Il Colmetto

Riccardo Scalvinoni's skill has shone a spotlight on this peripheral and somewhat eccentric reality compared to the evolved rural mainstream of the rich Brescian countryside. He deserves credit for having been able to valorize a vertical supply chain of self-produced raw materials with maniacal respect for the season and taste, the centrality of fire and embers in enhancing vegetables, and the use of lake resources even in less noble types. The Easter menu includes dishes such as stuffed eggs, holiday broth, lasagna millefeuille, rice, Verzulì, sweet robiola, kid lingot, and fresh field herbs. Sensible and personal wine list, high-level bread, leavened products, and sweets, foremost the rose cake.

Il Colmetto - Rodengo Saiano (BS) - via Finilnuovo, 9/11 - 030 6811292 - ilcolmetto.it

Corte Airone

Brie and asparagus strudel on its fondant, vegetable cannelloni with rabbit ragout, veal cheek with citrus fruits, sautéed herbs and parsley potatoes: all homemade with house products or known artisans, and neighbors. The structure is conceived in the name of environmental sustainability and offers hospitality (some rooms have recently been renovated), refreshment, and a series of experiences in the green (horse riding, beauty, yoga, walking) that make the stay a regenerating break at any time of the year, and especially with the first warmth, on the occasion of the Easter holiday. When it's warm, there's also a swimming pool.

Corte Airone - Piadena Drizzona (CR) - s.da comunale per Isola Dovarese, 2 - 0375 389902 - corteairone.it

Polisena L’Altro Agriturismo

It belongs to the Tosca farm - a bio-conducted winery - and in addition to panoramic rooms and spa, it offers a veg refreshment where "house" products are used, and the kitchen is not trivially vegetable. For Easter, you'll find chickpea flour cake, radicchio and Valtellina apple salad, fennel and ginger velouté, almond heart and fresh spring onion, Carnaroli rice Reserve San Massimo whipped with new carrot, asparagus and broad beans, Portobello mushroom "Milanese style", field herbs and lemon mayo. Organic Arabica coffee, Tosca wines, and sourdough bread.

Polisena L’Altro Agriturismo - Pontida (BG) - loc. Riviera - via Ca’ di Maggio, 333 - 035 795841 - agriturismopolisena.it

Quattro Stagioni at Agriturismo La Fiorida

One of the most famous agriturismos in the region, with the fine dining La Preséf and the internal restaurant, Quattro Stagioni. In both kitchens, they work following the principles of the house: animal husbandry, milk processing, and vegetable gardens. For Easter, in the latter, there's a proposal ranging from cauliflower cream, Selva egg cooked at 64°C and trout caviar, to Carnaroli Campo dell’Oste risotto whipped with artichokes and Coastiera dei Cech truffle foam, from kid in stew with aromatic herbs from the vegetable garden to seasonal vegetables (monk's beard and rosemary potatoes). Children's menu and farm visit at 10:30.

Quattro Stagioni dell'Agriturismo La Fiorida - Mantello (SO) - via Lungo Adda, 12 - 0342 680846 - lafiorida.com

Cascina Vittoria

Photo by Studio Lomax

An old farmhouse with a fireplace and solid family management. Chef Ricciardella interprets season and territory with a happy hand and beautiful ideas: puff pastry pasqualina cake, garden beets, fresh ricotta and eggs from "our" Cascina, deboned Lucanian lamb leg roasted with garden herbs, its cooking sauce and crunchy polenta cake, the multi-award-winning artisanal dove. Also rooms: interesting packages for short stays, for work or leisure. Valid cellar, attentive service. A perfect and regenerating getaway.

Cascina Vittoria - Rognano (PV) - via Roma, 26 - 0382 923772 - cascinavittoria.it

Voejua

Lake Maggiore is one of the favorite getaways for Milanese residents. Here, in a splendid location with a view that reaches up to Monte Rosa, there's hospitality in apartments equipped with all comforts and genuine cuisine made with many local products, including local cheeses, lake fish, pork from locally raised pigs, herbs and mushrooms from the surrounding mountains and forests, and vegetables from the house garden.

Voejua - Luino (VA) - via Longhirolo, 9 - 344 2675464 - voeuja.it

cover photo Il Colmetto